SINISTER — Syncretism (review)

Album · 2017 · Death Metal

4.5/5 · 2017-02-16
Vim Fuego

Back in the early 90s, Sinister was one of those death metal bands which most fans were familiar with, but were hardly ever anyone’s favourite band. Yes, Sinister’s songs had plenty going for them, like great writing, and excellent musicianship, and pretty damn good production, but there always seemed to be a certain spark missing to really propel the band into the big leagues.

Well, Sinister have stuck to the old school, and it sounds fucking refreshing. This is death metal the way it was initially intended to be. It’s just fucking… death. There’s no wanking around with prog-jazz infusions, pentatonic djenital fiddling, nu-core cluelessness, or folky fuckwittery. Nope, this is down-in-the-gutters bottom end riffing, turbo charged drumming, and gravel gargled vocals. It’s all that was good and great about death metal, and why most fans initially fell in love with it. Aad Kloosterwaard’s vocals are a particular delight. His gut-wrenching growl is a joy to behold, a cross between Chris Barnes at his most eloquent, and Glen Benton at his most bestial.

It’s generally pointless isolating highlights in a death metal album, because it is album-based music. That is, once you hear the first song, you know exactly what you’re getting for the entire album. If your ear isn’t attuned to it, all the songs might sound the same. If it does sound samey, it’s your loss. Stick to the radio. Sinister is not for you. For fans though, it’s nine tracks of somewhat Satanic gore and mire, with song titles like “Convulsion of Christ”, “Black Slithering Mass”, “Confession Before Slaughter” and “Rite of the Blood Eagle”.

This style of death metal isn’t sexy any more. The youth of today seem to find generic deathcore more desirable. This is for old perverts and deviants, who love things the way they used to be, when death metal meant death fucking metal, and didn’t need to be qualified with posts, cores or melodicks. Will “Syncretism” propel Sinister into the big leagues now? No. Should it? That’s up to the listener.

more than 2 years ago
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Nightfly wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Sounds like I need this album. Great review!

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I guess I'll just start with their first three then, there's nothing I like more in death metal than the old school stuff.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Well, the first three are really good old school death metal, although as this review also states, Sinister are not the most Unique sounding band on the scene. Personally I´m currently listening to "Aggressive Measures", which adds a groove element to the band´s sound, and I find that album recommendable if you enjoy artists like Decapitated and Psycroptic, so Sinister have tried other Things than just pure old school death metal.

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I've never heard Sinister before, would this new album be a good starting point?

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I´ve been waiting for this one. Can´t wait to listen to it.